Red Wings Defeat Sabres 5-2 Behind DeBrincat's Big First Period

Detroit scores three goals in the opening frame to take down the Atlantic Division leaders.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 1:39am

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The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Friday night, with Alex DeBrincat sparking a three-goal first period for the visitors. DeBrincat's power-play goal opened the scoring, and Detroit added two more power-play tallies from Lucas Raymond and Marco Kasper to take a 3-0 lead. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin scored for the Sabres, but Patrick Kane's empty-net goal sealed the win for the Red Wings.

Why it matters

The victory moves the Red Wings into a tie for ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings, just a point behind the New York Islanders for a playoff spot. Meanwhile, the loss is the Sabres' third straight, their longest skid since early December, as they try to maintain their position atop the Atlantic Division.

The details

DeBrincat's goal came just 4:02 into the game, sparking Detroit's three-goal outburst in the opening period. Raymond and Kasper also scored on the power play to give the Red Wings a commanding lead. The Sabres struggled with discipline, taking several penalties that led to the Red Wings' man-advantage opportunities. John Gibson made 28 saves for Detroit, while Alex Lyon stopped 15 shots for Buffalo.

  • DeBrincat opened the scoring with a power-play goal 4:02 into the first period.
  • Kasper made it 3-0 for Detroit with 3:54 left in the opening frame.
  • Thompson cut the lead to 3-1 with a one-timer 5:35 into the second period.

The players

Alex DeBrincat

The Red Wings forward scored a power-play goal to spark Detroit's three-goal first period.

Marco Kasper

The Red Wings forward scored one of Detroit's three first-period goals.

Tage Thompson

The Sabres forward scored his 400th career point with a one-timer goal in the second period.

Rasmus Dahlin

The Sabres defenseman scored a goal in the loss.

John Gibson

The Red Wings goaltender made 28 saves to earn the win.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been a little flat to start, but the guys responded well and we were able to get those three quick goals in the first period. That was the difference in the game.”

— Derek Lalonde, Red Wings Head Coach

What’s next

The Red Wings will host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night, while the Sabres will welcome the Seattle Kraken to Buffalo, also on Saturday.

The takeaway

This win keeps the Red Wings in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Sabres' recent struggles raise questions about their ability to maintain their division lead. The discipline and special teams play of both teams will be key factors going forward.